Volusia Councilman Wagner joining Doran's law firm

Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 10:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 10:57 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner, coming off the first re-election of his political career, has a new position in his private career: an attorney at Ted Doran's law firm.

Wagner, a former prosecutor and a private attorney since 2006, started work at the Daytona Beach firm Doran Sims Wolfe & Kundid on Wednesday morning.

"I wanted to be a part of a firm that really believes in community service, so in my opinion, it was a perfect fit," Wagner said Wednesday afternoon. "Now that the campaign's over, and I can start focusing more attention on my career ... it just made sense.

"Most people know me as a council member and how hard I work," Wagner said, "but I'm the same way as an attorney."

Wagner, 35, left his old law firm Bundza, Wagner and Rodriguez about a year ago. He handled personal injury and criminal defense cases there, and he said he's looking forward to expanding beyond that at Doran's firm.

"From my perspective, it's just such a great opportunity for the firm to have an attorney of Josh's stature join," Doran said, "and I know we plan to do great things for the community."

Doran, too, is involved in Volusia politics, and he and Wagner have allied on issues at the Halifax Area Advertising Authority — where Doran is an appointed member and former chairman. Last year, Doran ran unsuccessfully for Volusia County chair while Wagner ran for and reclaimed his District 2 seat.

Both said their new working relationship isn't about political ties.

"This is a business decision of mine, on Ted's part and the firm's part," Wagner said. "Not everything has to be political."

"We don't view it as a political issue at all," Doran said.

The firm is one of the area's most prominent, and it holds a roughly $290,000-per-year contract with the Volusia School Board to provide legal counsel for the school district. It has also worked for several state agencies, a couple of city governments and some private banks.

Wagner is the seventh attorney on the law firm's roster, which includes the four partners. He has four years left in his District 2 seat, and then he'll be term-limited from running for that position a third consecutive time.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner, coming off the first re-election of his political career, has a new position in his private career: an attorney at Ted Doran's law firm. </p><p>Wagner, a former prosecutor and a private attorney since 2006, started work at the Daytona Beach firm Doran Sims Wolfe & Kundid on Wednesday morning. </p><p>"I wanted to be a part of a firm that really believes in community service, so in my opinion, it was a perfect fit," Wagner said Wednesday afternoon. "Now that the campaign's over, and I can start focusing more attention on my career ... it just made sense.</p><p>"Most people know me as a council member and how hard I work," Wagner said, "but I'm the same way as an attorney." </p><p>Wagner, 35, left his old law firm Bundza, Wagner and Rodriguez about a year ago. He handled personal injury and criminal defense cases there, and he said he's looking forward to expanding beyond that at Doran's firm. </p><p>"From my perspective, it's just such a great opportunity for the firm to have an attorney of Josh's stature join," Doran said, "and I know we plan to do great things for the community." </p><p>Doran, too, is involved in Volusia politics, and he and Wagner have allied on issues at the Halifax Area Advertising Authority &mdash; where Doran is an appointed member and former chairman. Last year, Doran ran unsuccessfully for Volusia County chair while Wagner ran for and reclaimed his District 2 seat. </p><p>Both said their new working relationship isn't about political ties. </p><p>"This is a business decision of mine, on Ted's part and the firm's part," Wagner said. "Not everything has to be political." </p><p>"We don't view it as a political issue at all," Doran said. </p><p>The firm is one of the area's most prominent, and it holds a roughly $290,000-per-year contract with the Volusia School Board to provide legal counsel for the school district. It has also worked for several state agencies, a couple of city governments and some private banks. </p><p>Wagner is the seventh attorney on the law firm's roster, which includes the four partners. He has four years left in his District 2 seat, and then he'll be term-limited from running for that position a third consecutive time.</p>